Republic of Zaire, a former name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
official name within the Democratic Republic of the Congo of the Congo River (the term Congo River is more widely used elsewhere).
the former name (1971–97) of the Democratic Republic of Congo
(formerly) the Zaïrian name (1971–97) for the (River) Congo
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He was only booked and Zaire lost 3-0; they were allowed home but President Mobutu cut their funding.
From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026
The Democratic Republic of Congo stymied Portugal in its first visit to the tournament since appearing as Zaire in 1974.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 25, 2026
Vaccines targeting Zaire ebolavirus have proven highly effective, and two antiviral treatments have reduced mortality rates from 50% to 35%.
From Science Daily • Jun. 22, 2026
Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo, meanwhile, are back in the World Cup for the first time since 1974 — for Congo, it’s been so long the country was known as Zaire then.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
Khola virus is named for the Ebola River, which is the headstream of the Mongala River, a tributary, of the Congo, or Zaire, River.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
